Description
The white cloud mountain minnow, or tanichthys, is a Chinese cyprinid of barely 4 cm with a golden stripe along its body and red fins edged in white. It is the great small coldwater fish: it lives without a heater at room temperature.
That makes it the best alternative to the goldfish for anyone who wants an unheated aquarium: it takes little space, does not foul the water like a goldfish and behaves like a tetra, in a group at mid-height.
Paradoxically, it almost vanished in the wild: for decades it was believed extinct there, and it survived thanks to the hobby. All fish in the trade are captive-bred.
Behavior
Peaceful and shoaling: six minimum, ten is better. Males display to each other with fins spread, without harm.
It lives well with other small fish that tolerate cool water, such as zebra danios, and with Neocaridina shrimp and snails.
Avoid housing it with goldfish, which grow until they can swallow it, and tropical fish needing 26 °C or more; keeping it permanently warm shortens its life.
Habitat
Tanichthys albonubes lives in mountain streams of southern China and northern Vietnam, around Baiyun Mountain near Guangzhou, where its common name comes from. The water is clear, cool, with some flow and a gravel and stone bottom.
At home that means room temperature, good oxygenation, hardy plants and a tight lid: it is a good jumper.
Pez de las nubes blancas is a schooling species, which means that in the wild it lives and moves in large, coordinated groups.
Keep at least 6 individuals so they feel comfortable and their stress level stays low.
Habitats
Details
🌊 Water parameters
🐠 Minimum tank size
Breeding
An egg scatterer and very easy to breed. It releases eggs among fine plants or moss and, unlike most scatterers, barely eats its fry: in a planted, single-species tank the young simply appear.
If you want more, a separate tank with plenty of moss and some powdered food for the fry is enough.
Diet
Omnivorous and undemanding.
- Staple: fine flake or micropellets.
- Supplement: frozen or live daphnia and brine shrimp.
With some live or frozen food, males colour up much more and display more often.
What about your tank?
Enter your tank's values to see only the compatible species that fit them. Litres apply to fish.
Compatible fish
General guidance based on water parameters, behaviour and known exceptions; always review the individual animals' and aquarium's specific needs.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 22 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6–8 and 22 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 20–22 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 18–22 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 18–22 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–8 and 22 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6–8 and 22 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 20–22 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.2 and 22 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 20–22 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–8 and 15–22 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 22 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 22 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 20–22 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 22 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
Compatible invertebrates
General guidance based on water parameters, behaviour and known exceptions; always review the individual animals' and aquarium's specific needs.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 20–22 °C.
They share water: pH 6–6.5 and 20–22 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 18–22 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 22 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 22 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 20–22 °C.
They share water: pH 6–6.8 and 20–22 °C.
They share water: pH 6–6.8 and 20–22 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 18–22 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 20–22 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 18–22 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 18–22 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 18–22 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 18–22 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 18–22 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 22 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6.5–8 and 15–22 °C.
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They share water: pH 7–8 and 15–22 °C.
Sources
- FishBaseFroese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2026. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication.
- Seriously FishSeriously Fish. Tanichthys albonubes. Ficha de especie; consultada 2026-08.
Plan your next aquarium
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